Noise-related anxiety in dogs: improving management
Abstract
Sound reactivity, fears and phobias are amongst the most common signs of anxiety in dogs presented to the behaviour counsellor. The use of drugs and programmes including sound desensitization CDs and dog appeasing pheromone (DAP) sprays in noise-related anxiety are well documented, yet it is clear that in many cases a significant improvement is not in evidence.
In the author's experience over 20 years, based on her own case studies and those developed by her students in five European countries studying with the International Dog Behaviour and Training School, there are a number of other factors that should also be taken into account, including the lifestyle, general physiological and psychological balance of the dog, along with clearer guidelines for practitioners as to how owner actions may influence the outcome.
The author questions the use of some of the typical routes to alleviation and resolution, along with a reminder that each case needs an individual approach according to the overall health and lifestyle of the dog, the owner's resources, awareness and understanding.
Sound reactivity, fears and phobias are amongst the most common signs presented to behaviour counsellors (Overall, 2002). The use of drugs and programmes including sound desensitization CDs and dog appeasing pheromone (DAP) sprays in noise-related anxiety are well documented (Tod et al, 2005; Young-Mee et al, 2010), yet it is clear that in many cases a significant short or long-term improvement is not in evidence. Mills et al (2003) indicate that the problem of dogs fearing fireworks, for example, can't be tackled by prescribing medicine on its own and have stated that more research is needed. Sheppard and Mills (2003) cite that the delivery of pheromones was generally associated with a reduction in the intensity of fear but there were variations in the responses of individual dogs. However, it must be noted that only a small sample of dogs was used and there was no placebo control in this study, bringing into question the significance of the results.
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